travel photography

yellow lanterns

We flew out of Shanghai early and got to Xian around noon so we decided to take advantage of the half day and venture out to the Large Goose Pagoda. There were many traditional Chinese buildings on the route to the pagoda.

police

Chinese police men were patrolling the streets on bikes.

yellow and red

A covered walkway on the edge of the large park in front of the pagoda.

anti-smoking ad

The first anti-smoking AD where the cigarette is in the shape of a noose. Obviously not many people pay attention to the ADs because they all smoke and they smoke anywhere they feel like.

small side temple

A small building in the front of the Large Goose Pagoda which held paintings and small Buddhas.

small side temple 2

Another side building in entrance to the Pagoda.

chinese details

A large red lantern brightly shines against the ornate detail on the side of the building.

painting

A violent detail of a scroll painting hanging in one of the buildings on the side of the Pagoda. This was one of 6 interesting paintings depicting violent scenes.

mosaic pattern

Ornate design on the side of the buildings created by using small pieces of colored glass tile.

walkway

Red columns and hanging lanterns decorate the covered walkway by the Large Goose Pagoda.

Large Goose Pagoda

Finally we made it to the Large Goose Pagoda after walking down the long entry way. It is an active temple and is seven stories high.

worker

A worker on top of the front entrance to the pagoda. They were renovating the roof.

bushes

iron gate

The large entrance gate into the Large Goose Pagoda.

view 1

Once inside of the Large Goose Pagoda you had to climb up seven stories to reach the top. From there you had a wonderful view of city from all angles.

yellow ginkgo leaves

view 2

The view of the city from a different side. Notice all the smog. Xi'an, although not as populated as Shanghai is very polluted because of all the industry.

Chinese characters

This wall behind the Large Goose Pagoda had a couple of Chinese characters carved into it. I have no idea what it says.

dusk

The sun was beginning to set, casting a beautiful glow on the structures. The moon began to show itself and the lights inside the Pagoda turned on. The Pagoda looked beautiful and thus began my manic shooting spree which lasted close to 30 minutes. The place would be closing soon so my father stood to the side thinking each time we stood up we were done. It then turned dark and he convinced us it was time to go.

straight on dusk

moon rising

As it got darker and the moon rose higher. The contrast between the orange lights shining through the Pagoda windows and the dark blue of the sky grew more prevalent. I was mesmerized by the beauty of the scenery around me.

lit characters

The lights by the wall with the characters turned on making for an excellent photograph.

bright lights

We took a cab from the Large Goose Pagoda to the ancient walled city of Xi'an. As we drove through the gate of the wall we were quite surprised to see such modernity in the "ancient" city. There were large designer shops, Starbucks and Mcdonalds and many many bright neon lights surrounding the few remaining old structures. Not exactly what we were expecting.

bell tower

The Bell Tower is located in the center of the ancient walled city of Xi'an.

neon words

The Bell Tower was surrounded by streets with large neon lights either for pure decoration or plain old advertisement. There were many vendors selling little light up spinning toys, traditional tourists souvenirs, and interesting finger food items.

lines of warriors

The wonderful magnificent and many Terracotta Warriors. When we entered the large room and saw all the warriors I was breathless. There were so many of them and so intricately made. It was quite a wonder to see in person.

individuals

Every warrior was modeled after a different real person.

warriors

These warriors are from pit 1, the most popular and largest of the three pits. There are over 6,000 warriors in this area resembling generals and infantry men of the first Emperor of China's army.

pit 1

Pit 1 is massive. The grandiose scale of the First Emperor of China's tomb shows you how powerful he was during his rule.

warriors

The warriors were placed in orderly rows and in between them they kept the earth. They placed wooden beams over the rows of warriors to protect them when they recovered the area.

warriors

entrance

One of the entrances into the burial pit.

broken pieces

The mausoleum was raided, burned and destroyed after the First Emperor died. When the archeologist began digging up the site they found (and are still finding) broken statues. The warriors that are standing were put back together and have been placed the way they were when buried.

warriors

horses

chariots

In pit 2 they discovered many rows of horse-drawn chariots which were elaborately painted and arranged as if to prepare for battle.

The Emperor's Tomb

About a mile from the mausoleum is where the Emperor's body was actually buried. This is the hill he is buried in and these are the stairs to the top.

pomegranate

Around the tomb were many pomegranate trees. We bought one from a vendor and it was so sweet and juicy. A nice treat after a long day.

view

The view from the top of the hill.

view 2

going down

pomegranate tree

Pomegranates hanging from the tree. They put bags around them to keep the bugs out.

ceremony

We stopped at the bottom to watch a brief performance.

ceremony 2

ceremony 3

small hut

The pomegranate orchard guards home.

silk thread

We went to a silk factory and saw how you make silk thread. They take the pupae sack of the silk worm and use a machine to pull the silk of the sack into a single thread.

silk sacks

All these will be twisted together to create one silk thread.

thicker silk

The larger pupae sacks are moistened and then stretched over an arc. This type of silk is used for insides of pillows and blankets.

antique market

Our last day in Xian. We went to an antique market, which was basically many aisles with little stores full of interesting antique Chinese items and souvenirs.

game

A game sitting outside one of the shops.

game as seen from above

people

People playing, working and selling, and shopping.

old man old stuff

two men

sidewalk vendors

old man

This old man was browsing through booklets with old money.

lunch break

We left the antique market and drove into the ancient walled city. Our cab driver went down interesting skinny alley streets full of vendors selling meat and other food. We got out in the Muslim area to go to the temple.

travel photography

yellow lanterns

police

yellow and red

anti-smoking ad

small side temple

small side temple 2

chinese details

painting

mosaic pattern

walkway

Large Goose Pagoda

worker

bushes

iron gate

view 1

yellow ginkgo leaves

view 2

Chinese characters

dusk

straight on dusk

moon rising

lit characters

bright lights

bell tower

neon words

lines of warriors

individuals

warriors

pit 1

warriors

warriors

entrance

broken pieces

warriors

horses

chariots

The Emperor's Tomb

pomegranate

view

view 2

going down

pomegranate tree

ceremony

ceremony 2

ceremony 3

small hut

silk thread

silk sacks

thicker silk

antique market

game

game as seen from above

people

old man old stuff

two men

sidewalk vendors

old man

lunch break

pigs feet

lamb vendors

bikes

snacks

bike cart

red lock

tomatos and cakes

orange

street vendors

dried fruits

bikes

turquoise